Jason Hayne & Chad Coombes

Jason Hayne & Chad Coombes

Not sure whether to put it here or in the Overseas Players section but both players are currently on trial with Hayes & Yeading United of the Conference National. The club is based in West London and are moving towards a more full-time setup this season (they've been semi-pro up to now).

Both players appeared in the club's recent friendly against Wycombe Wanderers so I'd expect we'll hear on their progress shortly.

good for both those guys and good luck to them.  Probably the right place for it here until they get a transfer

That's very good news assuming they both make it. Even if it's conference football it's good for kiwi's to be overseas.

i just hope for them personally they are succesful and enjoy it

I see your point. But you're thinking about whats best for the NZFC I'm thinking about whats best for the players. I just feel playing overseas should develop these players better, even if its just mentally. If it works out they could make the step up into League 2, and thats probably why they're going, new challenge and a possible stepping stone into a professional environment. The A-League would be around Championship/League 1 level right? so if they can make the step up they'd still be below A-league standard, so maybe thats their best chance at professional football instead of trying to get a contract with the Phoenix.Luis Garcia2010-07-28 11:39:03

Make no mistake, H&Y are a small club, even by Conference standards, but they've regularly punched above their weight and produced some good players over the years. They have a habit of making lots of money from selling players on (Les Ferdinand, Jason Roberts to name just two). Their board are very astute business people.

The exposure Coombes and Hayne would get playing in the Conference would be huge. Visiting some big clubs and playing in front of league scouts on a regular basis. It could be a very good move for both if they make it.

chad had trials for brentford and played fulham

Conference is MILES better than NZFC.

Big call... having watched Welling FC often, I would say they are about the same overall.  Conference has some better teams but also some distinctly worse teams.

The Conference has three times as many teams as the NZFC so of course there is more room for disparity between the top and bottom.

And yes i agree with DKP the Conference is much better than the NZFC.

The top 3 teams in the NZFC, AC, Waitak and Canterbury would beat most if not all Conference based teams.
In my opinion NZFC is same standard as Div 2 in England.

The grapevine has Jason going to Hungary for trials for a week following the other games.

League 2? No way.

League 2 is the fourth tier in England.
As mentioned the top 3 or maybe 4 teams at NZFC level, not the teams playing NZFC that wouldn't beat ECB or Caversham or Woolston Tech.
How many years have you been in the UK watching Football?
That is my opinion anyway.
Crawley Town to win the Conference for 2010/11.

Believing that any NZFC team would beat any League 2 team is the most mental thing I have ever read on this site, and I have read most of Feverish's posts.

Having watched year's worth of non-league football (at varying levels) and a whole season of NZFC, I would say the NZFC is on a par with mid-table Conference National. I certainly wouldn't say it's as good as League Two though, or the bigger Conference National clubs.

If it was as good as League 2 I'm sure we would see a plethora of New Zealanders with pro contracts, be it in a low league. But the fact is only a small amount would make it. Obviously the Phoenix guys would, but NZFC no.

It's not obvious at all actually.